As Election Day approaches, local candidates and issues take the forefront of local news. Decisions on how tax dollars are spent and trustee candidates are important to locals. However, local elections usually see smaller voter turnout due to the lack of people urging others to vote.
In 2024, 63.7% of voters voted in the Presidential Election, the second-highest voter turnout in the last century. Celebrities and influencers encouraged young voters to exercise their civic duty during the last election, but in 2025, there has been less social media interaction.
Now, there seems to be a large gap in voting advocacy, and with election day just a week away, this is a large concern for local elections.
While celebrity endorsements do not contribute directly to the voter turnout, they help people pay attention to what is on the ballot. People with a large social media following get attention when they speak out on certain issues, which is why it’s important for them to utilize their platforms to speak out.
Celebrities have long been using their platforms to speak out on a wide range of political issues, including immigration rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and abortion rights. Using their platforms for this purpose brings more awareness to these issues.
It’s as simple as celebrities reposting a post or making a statement on a certain issue. Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift are two examples of celebrities who have used their platforms for political advocacy.
Eilish was vocal on her social media platform and in person at her concerts, sharing her disappointment in President Donald Trump’s election win in 2024. She took to her concerts to share her feelings.
“Someone who hates women so, so deeply is about to be the president,” Eilish said at her 2024 Nashville show.
Swift endorsed Kamala Harris on her Instagram in 2024 after a presidential debate. This was a huge deal at the time, as she had a large platform and sharing her opinion on social media got a large number of her fans’ support.
“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” Swift said in an Instagram post. “Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.”
If more celebrities advocated the same way for local elections as they do for presidential elections, voter turnout could be higher.
All counties have their own local issues to be voted on. In Athens, Board of Education candidates, Township Trustees candidates and proposed tax levies are all on the ballot.
People may wonder why they should vote, thinking results will not affect them. However, the results affect everyone, even if it’s not on a national stage, so as a local one, it’s important to vote in these elections.
Even though it feels like an off year in terms of election issues, it is still just as important that people pay attention to these issues. This is a call to action for those with a platform to use it and encourage voters to fill out their ballots.
Sophia Anness is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Sophia about her column? Email/tweet her at sa425522@ohio.edu /@AnnessSoph0415.
